The woman, studying at the private Asad University in Tehran, was harassed by members of the Revolutionary Guard militia, activists said on Saturday. The security guards on campus tore her clothes. In protest, she walked through the streets in her underwear, as a video shows.
Further images show the young woman being dragged into a car by men in civilian clothes. According to Amir Kabir, the student, whose identity was not revealed, was beaten during the arrest. The video was apparently recorded by residents of a building near the university. It was first published by the Iranian student portal Amir Kabir and later distributed by numerous other websites, including the news site Iran Wire and the site of the human rights group Hengaw.
The Islamic Republic of Iran has strict clothing regulations that are increasingly being aggressively ignored by the younger generation. Their compliance is also checked by so-called moral watchdogs. Since the nationwide protests in autumn 2022, many women in major cities have been resisting the requirement to wear a headscarf. A case like this, in which a woman strips down to her underwear, was previously unknown.
Pro-government media reported that the university’s security service had handed the student over to the police. They rejected the portrayal on social media and spoke of the young woman’s “mental problems”. The incident is being investigated, it said. Your privacy must be respected. An Iranian student association reported that the woman was admitted to a psychiatric clinic. The human rights organization Amnesty International called for their immediate release.
Iran’s notorious moral watchdogs increased their patrols in major cities again at the beginning of the year. Violence against women and girls who resisted controls and arrests were reported in several cases. The new, conservative-moderate President Masoud Pezeshkian promised during the election campaign to address this issue. According to critics, however, the police’s course has hardly changed so far. The obligation to wear a headscarf is considered one of the ideological pillars of the Islamic Republic.
The Iranian branch of Amnesty International demanded on online service X that the authorities must “immediately and unconditionally release” the young woman. The allegations of beatings and sexual violence during her arrest must be investigated independently and impartially, the organization added.
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**Interview with Dr. Leila Farzaneh, Expert on Iranian Human Rights and Women’s Issues**
**Interviewer:** Thank you for joining us today, Dr. Farzaneh. We’ve just heard about a troubling incident involving a student at Tehran’s Asad University who faced harassment from security forces. Can you give us some context about the current situation for women in Iran?
**Dr. Farzaneh:** Thank you for having me. The situation for women in Iran has been tense and increasingly dangerous, especially since the protests that erupted in 2022 following the death of Mahsa Amini. Women have been at the forefront of these protests, challenging oppressive dress codes and the broader system that governs their lives. The incident you mentioned highlights the severe backlash against those who defy these regulations.
**Interviewer:** What can you tell us about the actions taken by the security forces in this particular case?
**Dr. Farzaneh:** Reports indicate that the student faced harassment, and her clothing was physically torn by security officials. In a brave act of protest, she walked through the streets in her underwear, a powerful statement against systemic oppression. However, this act of defiance led to her being violently taken away by men in civilian clothes, highlighting the risks faced by women who resist societal norms in Iran. The reaction from the authorities, who have attempted to frame her behavior as a sign of “mental problems,” is a common tactic used to discredit dissent.
**Interviewer:** How have the Iranian authorities reacted to this incident?
**Dr. Farzaneh:** The authorities have downplayed the situation and labeled the student as unstable. Their narrative seeks to undermine her actions by suggesting she is mentally ill rather than addressing the broader human rights violations taking place. Furthermore, pro-government media has already stated that the university’s security service handed her over to the police, conveniently sidestepping accountability for their own role in the harassment.
**Interviewer:** Human rights organizations like Amnesty International have called for her immediate release. What impact do these calls have in a restrictive regime like Iran?
**Dr. Farzaneh:** While these calls for action from organizations like Amnesty International are critical in drawing international attention, they often have limited immediate impact within Iran. The government is known to be resistant to external pressures. However, increased international scrutiny and advocacy can embolden local activists and encourage more public dissent.
**Interviewer:** With the new president Masoud Pezeshkian promising reforms, do you foresee any change in the treatment of women and the enforcement of mandatory dress codes?
**Dr. Farzaneh:** Unfortunately, despite promises for change, I have seen little evidence that the approach to enforcement has meaningfully altered. The ideological underpinnings of the regime remain the same. Women continue to face harassment and violence for their choices, particularly regarding their clothing. Until there are substantial systemic changes, we are likely to see continued clashes between women demanding their rights and the state’s efforts to control their behavior.
**Interviewer:** Thank you, Dr. Farzaneh, for your insights on this critical issue facing women in Iran.
**Dr. Farzaneh:** Thank you for covering this important topic. It’s crucial to keep these discussions alive.
